Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Along with flood control and having the ability to provide fresh water for the salmon and other aquatic life, being able to control the water when it comes too fast and have some left when it comes rarely is the whole point behind dams and neglecting their obvious utility is only increasing our peril in an already uncertain world of water.

It is refreshing that our governor seems to understand this and is not neglecting them.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday he has no plans to scale down his $4 billion proposal for building two new dams in the state despite watching Democrats reject his bill earlier in the day.

The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee killed the governor's plan to put bonds for two dams -- one on the west side of the Sacramento Valley and one east of Fresno -- on the 2008 ballot. Senate Bill 59 by Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, had Republican support, but couldn't muster the necessary five votes to pass out of the Democrat-led committee.

Schwarzenegger will now have to negotiate with Senate leader Don Perata, who is advocating a blend of water conservation and efficiency for sustaining the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta -- California's main source of fresh water. Republicans say they are willing to take the issue of dams to the voters in the form of a ballot initiative.

The Republican governor noted that politically charged topics like water take time to resolve. The bill was held for reconsideration, and Schwarzenegger says he remains optimistic about reviving his plan.

"I don't think we will have to scale back," Schwarzenegger said during a news conference after the vote. "I think the people of California deserve and need more water storage. ... We can't wait any longer."

This blog is part of the ongoing work of the American River Parkway Preservation Society to provide public education and advocacy around public policy issues that may be related to the Parkway and the adjacent communities along the American River in Sacramento, California.